Cop epic ‘End of Watch’ is a great ride

Showtime with Sasha

Sasha McBrayer
Film critic

POSTED:September 28, 2012 4:00 p.m.

Most of you likely have watched “Training Day,” which starred Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke as mentor and rookie cops, respectively, who go on a gritty ride through LA’s streets. It has become one of the most memorable cop movies of all time.

Now, David Ayer, who wrote and produced “Training Day,” is back with the recently released “End of Watch,” with which he added directing to his bag of tricks. The film opened last weekend in theaters and was the top-grossing movie.

This time, we’re in the squad car with Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña as young beat cops patrolling the Southland. The movie takes us through each call and shares the officers’ lives on and off the job. We visit the heroic, the macabre and the mundane, but things get especially twisted when the pair draws the attention of a Mexican drug cartel.

More than anything else, “End of Watch” is about brotherhood. It’s one of the most beautiful and inspiring aspects of the human condition, and it steals the show. Any soldiers out there definitely can relate.

Just about everything in this film is great: great acting, great script, great story. My girl, Anna Kendrick, plays Gyllenhaal’s love interest and wows as always. But it is Gyllenhaal and Peña who put on absolutely perfect performances.

That means … I’m a fan!

OK, now here are my disclaimers: “End of Watch” is rated R for good reason. I found it easier to watch than “Training Day,” but profanity is prevalent. Also, if you get woozy watching hand-held camera work, you’re in for a rough time.

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